Music for a Wednesday evening - Chopin
Chopin on style:
"In 5, 6, or 7 days I shall be in Paris….I forgot to ask you to order a hat for me from my Dupont in your street.He has my measure, and knows how light I need them. Let him give me this year’s fashion, not exaggerated; I don’t know how you dress now.
Also go in, as you pass, to Dautremont, my tailor on the boulevard, and tell him to make me a pair of grey trousers at once.You can choose the shade of dark grey; winter trousers, good quality, without belt, smooth and stretchy. You’re an Englishman, you know what I want…. Also a plain black velvet waistcoat, but with a tiny inconspicuous pattern, something very quiet and elegant."
Chopin on daily routine in Vienna:
"Let me describe to you my life here. I am on the 4th floor; it’s true it’s in the best street, but I should have to look well out of the window to see what is going on there. My room…is big and comfortable, with three windows; the bed opposite the windows; a splendid piano [pantaloon] on the right side, a sofa on the left; mirrors between the windows; in the middle a fine, big round mahogany table; a polished parquet floor. It’s quiet; after dinner His Lordship does not receive [visitors]; so I can concentrate my thoughts on all of you.
In the morning I am called by an insufferably stupid servant; I get up, they bring me coffee; I play, and mostly have a cold breakfast; about nine comes the for the German language; after that I usually play; Hummel has been drawing me, and Nidecki learning my concerto. All this in a dressing-gown till noon. After that comes a very worthy German, Leidenfrost, a German who works at the prison; and if the weather is fine, we go for a walk on the [walls] around the town, after which I go to dinner, if I am invited anywhere. If not, we go together to the place frequented by the entire academic youth; that is: Zur Boemische Kochin. After dinner black coffee is drunk in the best Kaffeehaus; that is the custom here… Then I pay visits, return home at dusk, curl my hair, change my shoes and go out for the evening; about ten, eleven or sometimes midnight, -- never later – I come back, play, weep, read, look, laugh, go to bed, put the light out and always dream about some of you."
Chopin on daily routine in Scotland:
"The whole morning, till two o’clock, I am fit for nothing now; and then, when I dress, everything strains me, and I gasp that way till dinner time. Afterwards one has to sit two hours at table with the men, look at them talking and listen to them drinking. I am bored to death (I am thinking of one thing and they of another, in spite of all their courtesy and French remarks at table). Then I go to the drawing-room, where it takes all my efforts to be a little animated – because then they usually want to hear me --; then my good Daniel carries me up to my bedroom (as you know that is usually upstairs here), undresses me, gets me to bed, leaves the light; and I am free to breathe and dream till it is time to begin all over again. And when I get a little bit used to it, then it is time to go somewhere else; for my Scottish ladies give me no peace…"
Chopin's Nocturne No. 2 in D flat major:
I've just become a hand man. E.
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I would never post for that reason. . .but I did notice.
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